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he  Reckoning 


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THE 


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The  Reckoning 


v 


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By 
PERCIVAL  WILDE 


NOTE 

The  acting  rights  of  this  play  are  strictly  reserved.  Per 
formances  may  be  given  by  amateurs  upon  payment  to  the 
author  of  a  royalty  of  five  dollars  ($5.00)  for  each  perform 
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to  produce  this  play  should  apply  to  MR.  PERCIVAL  WILDE, 
in  care  of  WALTER  H.  BAKER  COMPANY,  9  Hamilton  Place, 
Boston,  Massachusetts. 


BOSTON 

WALTER  H.  BAKER  COMPANY 
1922 


The  Reckoning 


CHARACTERS 


THE  BARBER. 
THE,  CUSTOMER. 


COPYRIGHT,  1913,  BY  PERCIVAL  WILDE. 

New  material  added  and 
COPYRIGHT,  1922,  BY  PERCIVAL  WILDE. 

All  rights  reserved. 


The  Reckoning 


The  first  Little  Theatre  production  of  "The 
Reckoning"  was  madt  by  the  Players, 
Detroit,  Michigan,  February  iBth,  1922. 

THE  BARBER  .  .  .  Michael  W.  Todd 
THE  CUSTOMER  .  .  George.  P.  McMahon 


PLEASE  NOTICE 

The  acting  rights  in  this  play  are  strictly  reserved  by 
the  author.  Applications  for  its  use  should  be  addressed 
to  MR.  PERCIVAL  WILDE,  in  care  of  WALTER  H.  BAKER 
COMPANY,  Hamilton  Place,  Boston,  Mass. 


Attention  is  called  to  the  penalties  provided  by  the  Copy 
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THE  RECKONING 


The  scene  is  a  barber  shop.  At  the  center  is 
the  chair,  facing  a  mirror  and  washstand  at  the 
right.  The  tiled  walls  are  sprinkled  with  the  usual 
advertisements.  At  the  rear,  a  door  leads  up  to 
the  street  by  a  flight  of  two  or  three  steps.  A 
clock  on  the  left  wall  indicates  three. 

At  the  rise  of  curtain,  THE  BARBER,  a  man  of 
fifty,  is  discovered  sharpening  a  razor,  and  whis 
tling  softly  to  himself.  He  finishes  with  the  razor; 
seats  himself  in  the  chair,  takes  up  a  paper,  and 
reads. 

The  door  opens,  and  THE  CUSTOMER,  a  flashily- 
dressed  individual  of  forty- five,  enters  the  shop. 

THE  BARBER 
(Rising  at  once) 
Good  afternoon,  sir. 

THE  CUSTOMER 
(Pulling  out  his  watch) 
That  clock  right? 

5 


6  THE  RECKONING 

THE  BARBER 

Yes,  sir ;  Western  Union  time.  Corrected  every 
hour. 

THE  CUSTOMER 

My  watch  has  run  down.  (He  sets  it.)  Now, 
I've  got  just  five  minutes  to  spare.  Can  you  shave 
me  in  that  time? 

THE  BARBER 
Five  minutes,  sir  ?    Easy !    Easy ! 

THE  CUSTOMER 
All  right.    Go  ahead. 

(He   takes   off  his   hat   and  coat,   and 
moves  towards  the  chair.) 

THE  BARBER 
Your  collar  also,  sir. 

THE  CUSTOMER 

(Smiling) 
Fussy,  aren't  you? 

THE  BARBER 
Well,  sir,  I  try  to  do  my  work  well. 

THE  CUSTOMER 

(Takes  off  tie  and  collar,  put  f  ing  his  expensive 
scarf-pin  in  the  edge  of  his  vest,  which  he  does 
not  remove) 
Satisfied  now? 


THE  RECKONING  7 

THE  BARUKR 

Yes,  sir.    Thank  you,  sir.     (He  gets  out  sheet, 
towels,  etc.)     In  a  hurry,  sir? 

THE  CUSTOMER 
Yes.     Got  to  attend  a  meeting  at  three-ten. 

THE  BARBER 
Oh!     The  auction  up-stairs? 

THE  CUSTOMER 

Yes.     (He  glances  at  the  clock.)     You'll  have 
to  cut  it  pretty  fine. 

THE  BARBER 

Don't  worry,  sir.    There's  lots  of  time.     ... 
From  the  country,  sir? 

THE  CUSTOMER 
(Lighting  a  cigar) 
Yes.     Southerner. 

THE  BARBER 
(Fastening  the  sheet) 
I  thought  so.    I'm  from  the  country  myself. 

THE  CUSTOMER 
What  part? 

THE  BARBER 

Oh,  that  would  be  difficult  to  say.     You  see, 
I've  moved  around  so  much  that  I'm  neither  a 


8  THE  RECKONING 

Southerner  nor  a  Northerner.  I'm  just  an  Amer 
ican.  (He  mixes  the  lather.)  I  lived  in  a  little 
town  near  Savannah  for  a  year. 

THE  CUSTOMER 
Did  you?    Why,  so  did  I. 

THE  BARBER 

Yes,  indeed.  I  used  to  see  you — quite  frequently 
— though  you  never  came  into  my  shop.  Then  I 
went  to  Philadelphia. 

THE  CUSTOMER 
What  year? 

THE  BARBER 
Let  me  think.    It  was  April,  twelve  years  ago. 

THE  CUSTOMER 

April,  twelve  years  ago?  /  went  to  Philadelphia 
the  same  month! 

THE  BARBER 
I  saw  you  there,  too,  sir. 

(He  lets  down  the  chair  suddenly.) 

THE  CUSTOMER 

(Startled) 
What  are  you  doing? 

THE  BAR 
I'm  hurrying,  sir. 


THE  RECKONING  9 

THE  CUSTOMER 
Well,  you  needn't  break  my  neck  about  it. 

THE  BARBER 

No,  sir.      (Lathering.)     From  Philadelphia  I 
went  to  Newark. 

THE  CUSTOMER 
To  Newark? 

THE  BARBER 
And  from  Newark  to  Indianapolis. 

THE  CUSTOMER 
(Much  surprised) 

What? 

THE  BARBER 

And  then  Muscatine — for  a  few  months — and 
Chicago — and  Louisville. 

THE  CUSTOMER 

Why,  one  would  think  you  had  been  following 
me  about!    I've  lived  in  every  one  of  those  places. 

THE  BARBER 
Have  you,  sir?    It's  a  little  world,  isn't  it? 

THE  CUSTOMER 
You've  been  a  barber  right  along? 


10  THE  RECKONING 

THE  BARBER 
I  couldn't  do  anything  else,  sir.    It's  my  tracle. 

THE  CUSTOMER 

(Smiling') 
Well,  this  is  the  first  time  you  ever  shaved  me. 

THE  BARBER 
Curious,  isn't  it?    But  it  may  be  the  last. 

THE  CUSTOMER 

That's  so.    I'm  going  to  leave  town  right  after 
the  auction. 

THE  BARBER 
If  I  may  ask,  sir,  where  are  you  going? 

THE  CUSTOMER 

I  don't  know  yet.     (Jocularly.)     Are  you  go 
ing  to  follow  me? 

THE  BARBER 

Sooner  or  later,  sir.     It's  going  to  be  a  long 
journey,  isn't  it? 

THE  CUSTOMER 
What  makes  you  think  so? 

THE  BARBER 

There's  a  long  journey  we  all  take — sooner  or 
later.    Eh? 


THE  RECKONING  11 

THE  CUSTOMER 

A  long  journey?  But  you're  wasting  time, 
man! 

THE  BARBER 

Am  I,  sir?  (He  strolls  to  the  clock;  looks  at  it; 
returns.)  Fine  weather  we're  having. 

THE  CUSTOMER 
(Impatiently) 
Yes. 

THE  BARBER 

Though  a  little  more  rain  would  be  good  for  the 
crops. 

THE  CUSTOMER 
Urn. 

THE  BARBER 
(Very  leisurely) 

You  know,  sir,  the  young  man  who  keeps  the 
shoe  store  at  the  corner  was  saying  as  I  trimmed 
his  hair  this  morning 

THE  CUSTOMER 
(Interrupting) 

I  don't  care  what  he  said!  I  want  to  get 
shaved ! 


12  THE  RECKONING 

THE  BARBER 

Yes,  sir !  Yes,  sir !  And — and  the  young  lady 
who  runs  the  news  stand  up-stairs — right  next  to 
the  elevator,  sir — she  was  saying  that  she  had 
never 

THE  CUSTOMER 
(Interrupting  more  violently) 
I  told  you  once  I  don't  care  what  your  friends 
were  saying!     I've  got  to  be  at  that  meeting  at 
three-ten. 

THE  BARBER 
Yes,  sir. 

THE  CUSTOMER 
My  time  is  almost  up.    You'll  have  to  hurry. 

THE  BARBER 

(Slapping  on  more  lather) 

Don't  worry,  sir.  I  always  keep  my  promises. 
Why,  I  remember,  sir,  back  in  Savannah,  when  my 
poor  daughter  was  alive,  I  promised 

THE  CUSTOMER 
(Interrupting  angrily) 
I  don't  give  a  damn  for  your  daughter! 

THE  BARBER 

(Mildly) 
No,  sir.    I  didn't  think  you  did. 


THE  RECKONING  13 

THE  CUSTOMER, 
And  your  time  is  up. 

THE  BARBER 
(Beginning  to  shave) 
Oh,  no,  sir !    It  hasn't  begun. 

THE  CUSTOMER 

(Starting) 
What  do  you  mean? 

THE  BARBER 

Don't  do  that  again,  sir !    You  don't  know  how 
near  you  came  to  cutting  yourself! 

THE  CUSTOMER 
You  promised  to  finish  with  me  in  five  minutes ! 

THE  BARBER 

No,  sir,  if  you  will  allow  me  to  contradict  you, 
I  did  not. 

THE  CUSTOMER 
You  said  you  would  shave  me  in  five  minutes. 

THE  BARBER 
Yes,  sir.     That  is  correct. 

THE  CUSTOMER 
And  it's 


14  THE  RECKONING 

THE  BARBER 

Easy,  sir,  easy!  The  razor  is  sharp!  (Shav 
ing.)  When  I  promised  to  shave  you  in  five  min 
utes,  I  didn't  say  anything  about  lathering. 
That  takes  several  minutes  by  itself. 

THE  CUSTOMER 
What? 

THE  BARBER 

Now  you've  done  it!  (He  applies  styptic  to  a 
cut  on  THE  CUSTOMER'S  face.)  Smarts,  doesn't  it? 

THE  CUSTOMER 

(Furious) 
You  clumsy,  awkward,  conceited  galoot ! 

THE  BARBER 

(With  sudden  and  overwhelming  rage) 
Don't  talk  to  a  gentleman  like  that!    You  cur! 
(  With  a  sudden  resumption  of  his  obsequious  man 
ner.)     I  did  it  on  purpose. 

THE  CUSTOMER 

(Gasping) 
Wh-what  do  you  mean? 

THE  BARBER 
(Respectfully) 
You  really  mustn't  accuse  me  of  being  clumsy, 


THE  RECKONING  15 

sir.     I'm  not  clumsy.     If  I  cut  you,  it  was  quite 
intentional — like  this ! 

(Cutting  him  a  second  time.) 

THE  CUSTOMER 
Damnation!    Are  you  crazy? 

THE  BARBER 
(Applying  the  styptic) 

No,  sir,  I'm  quite  sane.  (THE  CUSTOMER  tries 
to  sit  up.)  Oh,  don't  do  that,  sir!  Don't  do 
that !  My  razor  is  frightfully  sharp ! 

THE  CUSTOMER 
(Panic-stricken) 
I  want  to  sit  up ! 

THE  BARBER 

Don't  try  it  while  the  razor  is  at  your  throat, 
sir.  It  is  sure  to  be  fatal. 

THE  CUSTOMER 
Then  take  it  away ! 

THE  BARBER 

Oh,  no,  no,  no!  When  I  am  through  shaving 
you — not  before.  Now  take  it  easy,  sir.  Lie  back 
quietly !  Quietly !  That's  it. 


16  THE  RECKONING 

THE  CUSTOMER 
(Controlling  himself  with  an  effort,  and  putting 

his  cigar  in  his  mouth) 

What  are  you  going  to  do  with  me?  What's 
this?  A  hold-up? 

THE  BARBER 

What  am  I (With  a  sudden  access  of 

rage.)  Take  that  filthy  thing  out  of  your  mouth! 
(He  snatches  the  cigar,  and  throws  it  to  the  floor; 
continues  obsequiously.)  What  am  I  going  to  do 
with  you,  sir?  Why,  really,  I  haven't  the  slight 
est  idea.  Er — can't  you  suggest  something? 

THE  CUSTOMER 
(Quickly  and  earnestly) 

Listen  to  me.  I  must  be  at  that  meeting  at 
once!  I  can't  spare  another  minute.  If  I  am  not 
there  before  three-fifteen  I  will  be  ruined — do  you 
understand  me  ? — ruined ! 

THE  BARBER 

You  needn't  raise  your  voice,  sir.  My  hearing 
is  excellent. 

(He  lathers    again,   keeping   the   razor 
near  THE  CUSTOMER'S  ,throat.) 

THE   CUSTOMER 

(Piteously) 
Can't  I  convince  you?    I 


THE  RECKONING  17 

THE  BARBER 

Oh,  I  believe  you.  Don't  let  that  trouble  you. 
In  fact,  I  know  all  about  the  meeting.  There's 
going  to  be  an  auction,  and  unless  you  bid,  it  will 
be  all  up  with  you. 

THE  CUSTOMER 
Then  you'll  let  me  go  there? 

THE  BARBER 
I'm  afraid  I  won't,  sir. 

THE  CUSTOMER 
But 

THE  BARBER 

If  I  may  use  your  own  words,  sir,  I  don't  give  a 
damn  about  your  meeting. 

THE  CUSTOMER 

(Angrily) 
Who  the  devil  do  you  think 


THE  BARBER 
(Interrupting  him  by  running   the  lather  brush 

into  his  mouth) 
Oh,  shut  up!     (There  is  a  pause.) 

THE  CUSTOMER 
I'll — I'll  give  you  ten  dollars  to  let  me  go. 


18  THE  RECKONING 

THE  BARBEB 

(Acting  as  if  he  did  not  hear) 
Beg  pardon,  sir? 

THE  CUSTOMER 

(Taking  the  scarf-pin  from  the  edge  of  his  vest.) 
This    scarf-pin — it's   worth   five   hundred   dol 
lars —  I'll  give 

THE  BARBER 
(Raises  his  hand  to  his  ear,  knocking  the  pin  out 

of  THE  CUSTOMER'S  hand) 
I  don't  hear  well  on  this  side.    Try  the  other. 

THE  CUSTOMER 

A  thousand  dollars!  I'll  give  you  a  thousand 
dollars ! 

THE  BARBER 

I'm  afraid  it  won't  do,  sir.  You  see,  the  young 
lady  who  runs  the  news  stand  up-stairs  says — you 
won't  interrupt  me  this  time,  will  you? — she  says 
it's  important  to  keep  customers  in  sight.  There's 
nothing  so  bad  for  trade  as  an  empty  shop. 

THE  CUSTOMER 

Oh,  have  you  no  heart?  It's  almost  too  late 
now !  Every  second  is  worth  a  dollar  to  me ! 


THE  RECKONING  19 

THE  BAEBEE 

Well,  sir,  it  will  console  you  to  know  that  my 
time  is  worth  very  little. 

THE  CUSTOMER 

Please  let  me  up !  If  I  wait  two  minutes  longer, 
I  might  as  well  shoot  myself. 

THE  BAEBEE 
I  shan't  object,  sir. 

THE  CUSTOMEB 
Oh!    Oh!    Oh! 

THE  BAEBEE 

So  you  are  beginning  to  feel  some  regrets?  I'm 
glad  to  see  it.  I  always  thought  you'd  regret 
sooner  or  later.  (Shaving.)  By  the  way,  sir, 
haven't  you  recognized  me  yet? 

THE  CUSTOMEE 
Recognized  you? 

THE  BAEBEE 

Oh,  I  see.  You  thought  I  was  just  a  lunatic. 
Well,  I'm  not.  Look  at  me.  Look  at  me  closely. 

THE  CUSTOMEE 
I  don't  know  you! 


20  THE  RECKONING 

THE  13  A  HUE  it 

No?  Well,  just  say  to  yourself,  **  Twelve  years 
ago  this  man's  hair  was  not  so  gray.  Twelve  years 
ago  this  man's  face  didn't  show  so  many  lines  of 
care.  Twelve  years  ago  this  man  lived — well,  in 
a  little  town  near  Savannah,  and " 

THE  CUSTOMER 
(Beginning  to  recognize  him) 
You — you  can't  be 

THE  BARBER 
Say  it. 

THE  CUSTOMER 
Kilburn! 

THE  BAIIBER 
Yes,  Kilburn! 

THE  CUSTOMER 

(Hoarsely) 
And  you  followed  me  about ! 

THE  BARBER 
For  twelve  years ! 

THE  CUSTOMER 
From  town  to  town ! 

THE  BARBER 
I  was  never  more  than  a  week  behind  you. 


THE  RECKONING  21 

THE  CUSTOMER 
(With  unutterable  horror) 
Good  God! 

THE  BARBER 

Yes,  God.  I  used  to  think  of  Him  a  great  deal, 
John.  I  used  to  ask  Him  why  He  never  brought 
you  into  my  shop. 

THE  CUSTOMER 
Oh!    Oh! 

THE  BARBER 

But  He  brought  you  here  at  last,  John!  He 
brought  you  here  at  last!  (He  pauses.)  For 
twelve  mortal  years  I've  been  hoping  for  this  day! 
Once,  in  Muscatine,  you  came  in,  but  there  was 
another  man  in  the  chair,  and  you  wouldn't  wait. 
Once,  in  Louisville,  you  crossed  my  threshold, 
looked  at  your  watch,  and  walked  out  again.  But 
sooner  or  later,  John,  I  knew  you'd  walk  into  my 
shop,  and  sit  down  in  my  chair!  That  day  has 
come!  (He  looks  into  his  eyes.)  You  and  I,  John, 
the  two  of  us,  have  a  long  account  to  settle,  haven't 
we?  I've  been  one  of  your  creditors,  too!  And 
this  is  the  reckoning,  John!  You're  going  to  pay 
me — pay  me  in  full — and  you're  going  to  pay  me 
now! 


22  THE  RECKONING 

THE  CUSTOMER 
What  are  you  going  to  do? 

THE  BARBER 

That's  a  hard  question,  John.     I'd  be  justified 
in  cutting  your  throat,  wouldn't  I? 

THE  CUSTOMER 
It  would  be  murder ! 

THE  BARBER 
Ugly  word,  isn't  it? 

THE  CUSTOMER 
Murder  in  the  first  degree ! 

THE  BARBER 
Oh,  of  course! 

THE  CUSTOMER 
They'd  get  you  as  sure  as  fate ! 

THE  BARBER 
I  wouldn't  run  away. 

THE  CUSTOMER 
But,  Kilburn,  think  what  you  are  doing! 

THE  BARBER 

I've  been  thinking  about  it  for  twelve  years, 
John. 


THE  RECKONING  23 

THE  CUSTOMER 
I'm  on  my  back,  helpless ! 

THE  BARBER 
You'd  run  if  I  let  you  up. 

THE  CUSTOMER 
But  give  me  a  chance !     Kilburn,  give  me 

THE  BARBER 
(Interrupting) 

No,  John,  you  get  no  chance.  You  gave  Jennie 
none.  (He  pauses.)  She  was  just  eighteen  when 
you  came  to  our  town.  She  was  only  a  child, 
John,  only  a  child.  Her  mother  was  dead.  I  was 
all  she  had — and  she  was  all  I  had.  And  I  was 
trying  to  bring  her  up  right — to  make  her  the 
same  kind  of  a  woman  her  mother  had  been,  if  you 
know  what  that  means. 

THE  CUSTOMER 
I  didn't 

THE  BARBER 

Don't  tell  me  what  you  did  and  what  you  didn't ! 
She  loved  you — and — and  I  trusted  you.  You 
were  going  to  get  married.  You  took  her  away 
with  you — and  you  didn't  marry  her!  Marriage? 
Why,  you  never  thought  of  it !  You  couldn't  get 
her  any  other  way — you  wanted  her — and  you  got 


24  THE  RECKONING 

her!  You  didn't  care  about  me,  and  you  didn't 
care  about  her.  She  was  a  toy.  She  amused  you, 
and  when  you  were  through  with  her,  you  flung  her 
into  the  gutter!  It  makes  me  sick  to  think  of  it! 
(He  goes  on  more  quietly.)  She  came  home  six 
months  later.  How  she  got  back  all  the  way  from 
where  you'd  taken  her,  I  don't  know — and  I  don't 
like  to  guess.  And  then — then  — — 

THE  CUSTOMER 
I'll  marry  her  now,  Kilburn. 

THE  BARBER 
You'll  have  to  ask  her  about  that. 

THE  CUSTOMER 

(Eagerly) 
Well? 

THE  BARBER 
In  two  minutes  you'll  be  able  to  ask  her. 

THE  CUSTOMER 
What  do  you  mean? 

THE  BARBER 
She's  dead,  John — dead. 

(THE  CUSTOMER  groans.  Then,  sud 
denly,  he  tries  to  rise.  THE  BARBER 
places  his  hand  over  his  forehead  and 
eyes,  and  forces  him  back  into  the  chair.) 


THE  RECKONING  25 

THE  BARBER 
Thirty  seconds  for  your  prayers,  John ! 

THE  CUSTOMER 

Don't  kill  me,  man !  Don't  kill  me !  I'm  not  fit 
to  die!  I'm  not  ready!  A  minute!  Two  min 
utes  !  I'm  too  young !  Don't  kill 

(THE  BARBER,  still  with  his  hand  upon 
the  other  man's  eyes,  suddenly  seizes  a 
wet  towel  and  strikes  him  across  the 
throat  with  it.  THE  CUSTOMER  faints. 
THE  BARBER  looks  at  him  contemptu 
ously;  abruptly  raises  the  chair  to  a  sit 
ting  position;  puts  away  tlie  razor.) 

THE  BARBER 

So  your  nerve  gave  way,  John?  Your  nerve 
gave  way? 

(He  spreads  the  towel  over  THE  CUS 
TOMER'S  face  and  roughly  wipes  away 
the  lather.) 

THE  CUSTOMER 

(Beginning  to  come  to;  faintly) 
Where  am  I? 

THE  BARBER 

You  ought  to  be  in  hell,  but  I  guess  you're  still 
on  God's  good  earth. 


26  THE  RECKONING 

THE  CUSTOMER 

(Putting  his  hand  to  his  throat) 
You — you  didn't  kill  me? 

THE  BAR  BEE 
No.     I  didn't. 

THE  CUSTOMER 
(Standing  up) 
And  you  could  have! 

THE  BARBER 

John,  when  you're  just  about  to  cross  the  river, 
when  your  eyes  are  beginning  to  glaze  and  your 
heart's  about  to  stop  beating,  you  won't  be  nearer 
death  than  you  were  a  minute  ago! 

THE  CUSTOMER 
Why  didn't  you  kill  me? 

THE  BARBER 
It  wouldn't  bring  back  Jennie,  would  it? 

THE  CUSTOMER 
(With  a  sneer") 
Were  you  afraid? 

THE  BARBER 

After  I  had  been  looking  forward  to  it  for  twelve 
years?  No. 


THE  RECKONING  27 

THE  CUSTOMER 
Then  why 

THE  BARBER 

(Grimly) 

You'll  remember  why!  (He  helps  him  on  with 
his  coat.)  John,  tell  me:  are  fellows  who  are  so 
brave  with  women  always  so  cowardly  when  they 
deal  with  men?  Or,  (breaking  off,  speaking 
slowly),  or,  perhaps,  was  it  on  account  of  that 
meeting? 

THE  CUSTOMER 
That  meeting?     Good  Lord! 

THE  BARBER 
Yes,  the  meeting. 

THE  CUSTOMER 
(Looking  of  the  clock) 

Twenty-five  minutes  past!  I'm  ruined!  I'm 
ruined ! 

THE  BARBER 
(Half  to  himself) 

I  didn't  kill  you,  no !  I  left  you  your  life,  but  I 
made  it  worthless !  I  broke  you !  I  broke  you ! 

THE  CUSTOMER 

(Has  crossed  stealthily  to  the  door) 
Kilburn ! 


28  THE  RECKONING 

THE  BARBER 
(Startled  at  the  sudden  change  in  his  voice) 

Yes? 

THE  CUSTOMER 
(Hysterically) 

Thought  I  was  a  fool,  did  you?     Thought  I'd 
tell  you  the  real  time  of  the  meeting? 

THE  BARBER 
What  do  you  mean? 

THE  CUSTOMER 
(Shrieking) 

You  ass !     You  idiot !     The  meeting  doesn't  be 
gin  till  three-thirty! 

THE  BARBER 

(Calmly) 

Is  that  all?     Well,  the  clock  (pointing  to  if)  is 
half  an  hour  slow. 


CURTAIN 


PERCIVAL  WILDE'S   PLAYS 


oA  partial  list  of   Theatres  in    which   Mr.    Wilde's  plays 
have  been  produced 

Arts  and  Crafts  Theatre,  Detroit,  Mich. 

Arts  League  of  Service,  London,  England. 

Art  Drama  Players,  New  York  City. 

Arts  Club,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Ahmy  Players,  Louisville,  Ky. 

Amateur  Comedy  Club,  New  York  City. 

Associated  University  Players,  Seattle.  Wash. 

Brooklyn  Repertory  Theatre,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Brooklyn  Institute  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Bramhall  Theatre,  New  York  City. 

Chautauqua  Players,  Chautauqua,  N.  Y. 

Community  Players,  Boston,  Mass. 

Community  Players,  Chatham,  N.  J. 

Community  Players,  Jefferson,  N.  Y. 

Community  Theatre,  Grinnell.  Iowa. 

Community  Theatre,  Hollywood,  Cal. 

Community  Theatre,  Richmond  Hill,  N.  Y. 

Country  Players,  Harmon,  N.  Y. 

The  Cues  of  Kew.  N.  Y. 

East- West  Players,  New  York  City. 

Gardens  Players,  Forest  Hills,  N.  Y. 

Great  Northern  Players,  Chicago,  111. 

Harris  Theatre,  New  York  City. 

Lanai  Theatre,  Honolulu,  Hawaii. 

Lenox  Little  Theatre,  New  York  City. 

Lincoln  Heights  Community  Theatre,  Los  Angeles,  Cal. 

Little  Theatre,  Alva,  Okla. 

Little  Theatre.  Brookville,  Pa. 

Little  Theatre,  Erie,  Pa. 

Little  Theatre,  Houston,  Tex. 

Little  Theatre,  Oakland,  Cal. 

Little  Theatre,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

Little  Country  Theatre,  Agricultural  College,  No.  Dak. 

Little  Theatre  Society,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 

Little  Theatre  Society  of  Indiana,  Indianapolis,  Ind. 

McCallum's  Theatre,  Northampton,  Mass. 

The  Mummers,  New  York  City. 

Municipal  Theatre,  Northampton,  Mass. 

Mutual  Welfare  League,  Sing  Sing  Prison,  Ossining,  N.  Y. 

Neighborhood  Players,  Newark,  N.  J. 

Palace  Theatre,  Buenos  Aires,  Argentine,  S.  A. 

Peoples  Players,  Evanston,  Ind. 

Peabody  Playhouse,  Boston,  Mass. 

The  Players,  Detroit,  Mich. 

Plays  and  Players,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

The  Playhouse  on  the  Moors,  Gloucester,  Mass. 

Prairie  Playhouse,  Galesburg,  111. 

Playhouse  Association  of  Summit,  N.  T. 

Prince  Street  Players,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

Princess  Theatre,  New  York  City. 

St.  Francis  Little  Theatre,  San  Francisco,  Cal. 

Sinai  Center  Players,  Chicago,  111. 

Stuyvesant  Players,  New  York  City. 

Temple  Players,  Newark,  N.  J. 

University  Players,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

Village  Players,  La  Jolla,  Cal. 

Vincintian  Players,  Schenectady,  N.  Y. 

Wisconsin  Players,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 

Wise  Center  Players.  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

Ypsilanti  Players,  Ypsilanti,  Mich. 

WALTER  H.  BAKER  CO.,  PUBLISHERS 

BOSTON,  MASS. 


JAW  0  3  193* 
3  1970  00296  5348    op    PERCIVAL   WILDE 


The  following  plays  are  now  obtainable  in  separate  volumes: 

DAWN.    Drama  in  One  Act. 

2  men,  I  woman  and  a  child.    Scene,  an  interior. 
THE  NOBLE  LORD.    Comedy  in  One  Act. 

2  men,  i  woman.    Scene,  an  exterior. 
THE  TRAITOR.    Play  in  One  Act. 

7  men.    Scene,  an  interior.    Costumes,  modern  and  military 
A  HOUSE  OF  CARDS.    Play  in  One  Act. 

i  man,  I  woman.     Scene,  an  interior. 
PLAYING  WITH  FIRE.     Comedy  in  One  Act. 

1  man,  2  women.    Scene,  an  interior. 
THE  FINGER  OF  GOD.    Play  in  One  Act. 

2  men,  i  woman.    Scene,  an  interior. 
CONFESSIONAL.    Play  in  One  Act. 

3  men,  3  women.    Scene,  an  interior. 

THE  VILLAIN  IN  THE  PIECE.    An  Unromantic  Comedy. 

2  men,  l  woman.    Scene,  an  interior. 
THE  BEAUTIFUL  STORY.     Play  in  One  Act. 

1  man,  I  woman  and  a  child.    Scene,  an  interior. 
A  QUESTION  OF  MORALITY.    Play  in  One  Act. 

3  men,  i  woman.    Scene,  an  interior. 
THE  RECKONING.    Drama  in  One  Act. 

2  men.    Scene,  an  interior. 

THE  LINE  OF  NO  RESISTANCE.    Comedy  in  One  A 
i  man,  2  women.    Scene,  an  interior. 

Price,  35  cents  each. 


DAWN 

and  Other  One-Act  Plays  of  Life  Today 

Including: 

Dawn,  The  Noble  Lord,  The  Traitor,  A  House  of  Cards 
Playing  with  Fire,  The  Finger  of  God 

Price,  cloth  binding,  $1.50  net 

"A  striking  talent  .  .  .  An  emphatic  technical  dexterity  .  .  .  Obviouslj 
to  be  acted." — CLAYTON  HAMILTON  in  The  Bookman. 

"I  read  it  through  at  one  sitting  and  got  real  thrills  from  it 
THOMAS. 

"What  O.  Henry  has  done  in  his  stories,  Mr.  Wilde  has  done  in  thest 
plays." — G.  W.  STARK  in  Detroit  News. 

181932 


000307609 


DATE  DUE 


PRINTED  IN  U.C  A 


